Sarah Panzarella, of Skaneateles, is certainly well-versed in the ways of the art world.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Sarah Panzarella stands outside the storefront of her gallery called Imagine That ... in Skaneateles on Thursday afternoon. The gallery will feature fine art and crafts and will hold a grand opening on Friday, July 10.
Sarah Panzarella stands outside the storefront of her gallery called Imagine That ... in Skaneateles on Thursday afternoon. The gallery will feature fine art and crafts and will hold a grand opening on Friday, July 10.
For more than 17 years, her father, Joe Panzarella, has owned and operated Imagine, a fine arts shop in Skaneateles.
Much of her life, Panzarella spent time working in the shop, which at least to some extent influenced her decision to pursue art as a career.
Panzarella, who earned her bachelor's in art before gaining her master's from Bennington, has worked as a school art teacher, as well as a private instructor in her favorite medium, pottery.
Recently, Panzarella decided it was time to take another step into the world of art. This inspired her decision to open a new gallery in Skaneateles. The gallery, called Imagine That..., will officially open its doors Friday, July 10.
Panzarella said that the decision was part passion and part necessity. She also noted that there are plans for renovations to the current Imagine location.
“We were looking for an alternative space while the renovations will be going on,” Panzarella said. “This space became available just a couple of doors down the street. We saw it as a great opportunity and we decided to keep it as a second gallery.”
Panzarella said that she was definitely influenced in her decision by her father.
“The gallery is an outgrowth of my work with my father,” Panzarella said. “I'm following his lead and building on what he has established with Imagine. I grew up working there off and on for 17 years. I think that it is a great opportunity and I'm really excited about it.”
Panzarella said that the new gallery will build on the model established by Imagine and will be developing in a new and unique direction. The new gallery offers Panzarella the opportunity to branch out into other areas that Imagine has not previously had the space to accommodate.
“We'll be doing a lot more,” Panzarella said. “We'll be doing more with woodworking, more pottery, more 2-D art. We're going to have more things that we just haven't had the room (for) or that we have always talked about and wanted to have at Imagine. This will give us the opportunity to showcase some of that.”
The new gallery will feature a wide variety of artists and will combine local and national talents. A lot of time and thought has gone into choosing pieces and artists that will be showing their work at the new gallery.
“We know a lot of artists from the craft shows we go to for Imagine,” Panzarella said. “And a lot of them we have always wanted to work with. We are also going to have a lot of local artists too. There is a lot of great talent here in Skaneateles and from the other communities around here, and we want to be able to showcase that.”
While initially Imagine That... will be sharing its space with Imagine during renovations, Panzarella said that after renovations are complete, Imagine That... will be splitting off into its own space with a similar but slightly different mission than Imagine.
“We'll kind of be somewhere in between,” Panzarella said. “We will be doing retail like we do at Imagine. We'll have jewelry and pieces for sale and we'll have trollbeads. But I think we will become more focused on being a gallery. We want to really offer something special to the community and I think we'll be able to do that.”
To kick off the grand opening, Panzarella will be hosting an open house at the new gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 10. The festivities which will feature live entertainment by her husband's band, The Usual Suspects.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Panzarella said. “We're really excited about it and everybody is welcome; the more the merrier.”
If you go
What: Imagine That ...
When: Opens Friday, July 10; open house from 6 to 9 p.m.; open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Where: 38 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles, Call 685-6264
Info: Call 685-6264
Much of her life, Panzarella spent time working in the shop, which at least to some extent influenced her decision to pursue art as a career.
Panzarella, who earned her bachelor's in art before gaining her master's from Bennington, has worked as a school art teacher, as well as a private instructor in her favorite medium, pottery.
Recently, Panzarella decided it was time to take another step into the world of art. This inspired her decision to open a new gallery in Skaneateles. The gallery, called Imagine That..., will officially open its doors Friday, July 10.
Panzarella said that the decision was part passion and part necessity. She also noted that there are plans for renovations to the current Imagine location.
“We were looking for an alternative space while the renovations will be going on,” Panzarella said. “This space became available just a couple of doors down the street. We saw it as a great opportunity and we decided to keep it as a second gallery.”
Panzarella said that she was definitely influenced in her decision by her father.
“The gallery is an outgrowth of my work with my father,” Panzarella said. “I'm following his lead and building on what he has established with Imagine. I grew up working there off and on for 17 years. I think that it is a great opportunity and I'm really excited about it.”
Panzarella said that the new gallery will build on the model established by Imagine and will be developing in a new and unique direction. The new gallery offers Panzarella the opportunity to branch out into other areas that Imagine has not previously had the space to accommodate.
“We'll be doing a lot more,” Panzarella said. “We'll be doing more with woodworking, more pottery, more 2-D art. We're going to have more things that we just haven't had the room (for) or that we have always talked about and wanted to have at Imagine. This will give us the opportunity to showcase some of that.”
The new gallery will feature a wide variety of artists and will combine local and national talents. A lot of time and thought has gone into choosing pieces and artists that will be showing their work at the new gallery.
“We know a lot of artists from the craft shows we go to for Imagine,” Panzarella said. “And a lot of them we have always wanted to work with. We are also going to have a lot of local artists too. There is a lot of great talent here in Skaneateles and from the other communities around here, and we want to be able to showcase that.”
While initially Imagine That... will be sharing its space with Imagine during renovations, Panzarella said that after renovations are complete, Imagine That... will be splitting off into its own space with a similar but slightly different mission than Imagine.
“We'll kind of be somewhere in between,” Panzarella said. “We will be doing retail like we do at Imagine. We'll have jewelry and pieces for sale and we'll have trollbeads. But I think we will become more focused on being a gallery. We want to really offer something special to the community and I think we'll be able to do that.”
To kick off the grand opening, Panzarella will be hosting an open house at the new gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 10. The festivities which will feature live entertainment by her husband's band, The Usual Suspects.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Panzarella said. “We're really excited about it and everybody is welcome; the more the merrier.”
If you go
What: Imagine That ...
When: Opens Friday, July 10; open house from 6 to 9 p.m.; open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Where: 38 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles, Call 685-6264
Info: Call 685-6264
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